3 People Shot Including 2 New Haven Police Officers; Suspect In Custody: UPDATE

NEW HAVEN, CT — Police say John Douglas Monroe, 51, of Elm Street is accused of shooting his wife, who is a retired Corrections Department employee, during a domestic dispute Saturday morning. Monroe also shot two New Haven police officers who arrived on the scene, police said. The wife is in critical condition, police say, and the officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

For several hours, Monroe kept himself locked inside his residence and around 3 p.m. a SWAT team reached him in the basement and ended up shooting the suspect and taking him into custody, police said. Police said Monroe pointed a gun at the officers before they fired at the suspect.

At 10:21 a.m., officers were sent to reported gunfire on the 600 block of Elm Street, said Police spokesman David Hartman. Upon their arrival, they learned a woman, 51, had been shot multiple times inside 638-640 Elm Street, police said. The shooting happened during a domestic dispute, police said. The officers located her and arranged for her transportation to Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Officers went to the crime location to search for the perpetrator and any other victims that may have been there, police said. As they began clearing the home, Officers Scott Shumway and Officer Eric Pessino were shot by the perpetrator inside the home, police said. The ‘officer down’ call was transmitted at 10:32 a.m., police said.

Both officers were taken to the hospital for treatment of their non-life threatening wounds, police said. Pessino has since been released from care and Shumway remains hospitalized, Hartman said.

SWAT team members and New Haven Police Department Hostage Negotiators were on scene quickly and laid out their plan to reach the perpetrator. For several hours, all attempts to reach the perpetrator by phone were unsuccessful, police said. A tactical approach was formulated as SWAT members conducted a systematic evacuation of nearby residents, police said.

The perpetrator had at some point moved to the basement. SWAT officers were met at the basement door by the perpetrator who pointed a long gun at them, police said. Officers fired upon the man, striking him, police said.

The female victim is his wife and she suffered gunshot wounds to her hand, arm, back and chest, police said. She remains in critical condition, police said.

This investigation will be handled in its entirety by the Connecticut State Police and CT State’s Attorney’s Office. The scene on Elm Street has, for the most part, been cleared with the exception of the block the house is on, Hartman said.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy released the following statement regarding an active shooter situation in New Haven earlier today leaving several individuals injured, including two police officers.

“Today’s events serve as a reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officials face while protecting our communities. Police officers show up for work every day with the intent to serve and protect, and we are grateful for their service. While this remains an active investigation and we do not presume to know all the details regarding this particular situation, we are also reminded today of our moral obligation to work to prevent domestic violence and the many needless tragedies that occur as a result," said Malloy in a statement. "Our thoughts are with the injured responders, Officers Eric Pessino and Scott Shumway, the victim, as well as all their families and friends. We wish each of them a full and quick recovery.

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